Jim O'Connor/US PresswireNets head coach Avery Johnson directs his team earlier this season.

DENVER — Avery Johnson tried to evade the question about his yelling at the team at Tuesday's practice, but finally, when asked if the team got a different version of him Tuesday than the mild-mannered teacher he usually conveys, the Nets coach smiled.

"They did hear a different version," he said. "They heard a really different version."

"We had a very spirited video session," he said. "Guys really started to see some of the same mistakes that they have been making consistently, and, hopefully, we won't make some of those same mistakes."

"It's the loudest I've heard him," guard Deron Williams said of Johnson. "We've gotten in the habit of ... making the same mistakes over and over, and not being in the right positions over and over and over. And I think we were watching film and he kept seeing it and kept seeing it, and finally, you know, it wears on you. He got a little heated. But his message was clear: I think guys are going to be in the right spots, if they know what's good for their career."

Williams was chuckling as he talked, but the Nets have serious problems not only on offense, but on defense. Offensively, they are 28th of 30 in points per game (87) and last in field-goal percentage (39 percent). Defensively, they are the worst team in the league in defending 3-point shots (opponents are shooting 44.5 percent on 3-pointers against them) and second-worst in overall opponents field goal percentage (47.8). And they allow the fifth most opponents points per game (97.6). All those numbers are entering tonight's game with the Denver Nuggets.

Forward Damion James (foot) and G DeShawn Stevenson (knee) were ruled out of tonight's 123-115 loss to the Nuggets. James missed his fourth game. Stevenson missed his second game after having had fluid drained from his right knee before Monday's game against Atlanta.

Stevenson said he is ready to play but the team told him to sit out one more game. He said he will be back at practice Thursday in Phoenix, and expects to play Friday against the Suns.

Mehmet Okur (back spasms) was classified as a game-time decision by Johnson. Okur, however, told reporters he expected to play.

Williams refused to talk about a report that says he has made the USA's preliminary basketball roster for the Olympics. "I don't know. Until it's announced, I ain't talking about (anything)," he said.

Because it snowed today in Denver, the Nuggets canceled their shootaround.

Newark native Kenneth Faried, the 6-8 rookie from Morehead State who was Denver's first round draft pick in June, said he's enjoying Denver so far, even though, basketball-wise, he's off to a tough start, having played in just two of the Nuggets' first 10 games.

"I'm a rookie, of course, so I have to wait my turn," Faried said. "So I'm just waiting, and being patient. But as long as the guys have trust in me and see that I'm going hard and the coaches see I don't have a pout on my face, and I'm still smiling, I'm still enjoying life everyday, maybe I'll get my shot today. Maybe I'll get my shot next month. Who knows? But whenever I get it, I'll be ready."

Faried said he was disappointed when the schedule came out and he found out the Nuggets do not get to visit Newark this year. Of course, the Nets are moving to Brooklyn next season, so Faried won't get a chance to play an NBA game in Newark.